Andrea Bargnani thinks he can be an 'important' player for Nets

While most people have given up on Andrea Bargnani, the perennially underachieving Italian still thinks highly of himself. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE/Getty Images)

Andrea Bargnani wants to be a player his teammates can count on.

In his first public comments since he signed with the Nets on Friday, the eternally under-achieving, chronically injured 7-footer with the impressive skill set said he longs to be the type of player his peers can depend on in the crunch.

He apparently sees his role as long-term with the Nets, beyond just the one-year contract with a player option for a second year.

"I'm very focused," he said in a Facebook interview with Italian media that was translated to English for this story. "I want to play a season without the constant stop and start (of injury). I intend in coming years to be an important player within the structure of the Nets and a player on whom my teammates can count on in any situation."

Bargnani, 27, also defended his passion for basketball, which has been questioned over his nine-year career.

A recent story on ESPN.com portrayed Knicks president Phil Jackson as baffled by Bargnani's lack of desire to fight through injury last season when he played in only 29 games because of various ailments.

"As an athlete, I can definitely say that I am dedicating my life to basketball forever and, if I did not have a great passion and love for this sport, I would not be where I am now," he wrote in the post that was first reported by Netsdaily.com. "I will continue down this road without much grandstanding."

Bargnani has been depicted as sullen and fragile emotionally over his career.

But he sticks up for himself in the message, writing that because he's assumed to have an "introverted character" that it's a "perceived wrong."

Bargnani said he wasn't swayed by money, returning to New York after playing for the Knicks the past two seasons.

The former No. 1 pick said he was influenced by GM Billy King's vision for him in Brooklyn, which consists of spreading the floor with his three-point shooting and also spelling the team's big men.

His deal with the Nets is for one year at the veteran's minimum (amounting to roughly $1.4 million) with a player option for a second year, according to a league source.

Bargnani had also reportedly been in discussions with the Sacramento Kings but chose to sign with the Nets for considerably less money, a source confirmed.